Sunday evening’s matchup between the New York Giants and Washington Commanders was as near a playoff recreation as you may get within the common season.
With their 20-20 tie at East Rutherford two weeks earlier, the tiebreaker mainly went out the window. A win boosted the playoff odds for both staff – a loss dropped them severely.
And it was the G-Males who’ve now made it to the playoffs to lose.
The Giants held off a last-minute risk from the Commanders to win 20–12 on the highway and enhance to eight–5–1 on the season.
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New York Giants linebacker Kevon Thibodeaux (5) celebrates with teammates after he collects a fumble and returns it for a landing throughout the New York Giants recreation vs. Washington Commanders at FedEx Area on December 18, 2022 in Landover, MD .
(Lee Coleman / Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Pictures)
Down by eight factors in lower than two minutes, Antonio Gibson had a wholesome kick return to drive Washington to their very own 43. On the primary play of the drive, Taylor Heineke discovered wideout Curtis Samuel on a 27-yard move. Two performs later, he discovered rookie Jahan Dotson to maintain the Commanders inside 10.
Nick McCloud dropped a game-ending interception ultimately zone, giving Washington an additional life. Heineke ran 9 yards to get to the one-yard line, however an unlawful shift on the following play pushed him again 5 yards, and the Giants have been in a position to cease the Commanders on the following two performs to seal the victory.
Nevertheless, the final play didn’t come with out controversy, as Giants’ nook Darnay Holmes regarded like he obtained away with move interference ultimately zone, which might have given Washington a primary down on the one-yard line.
In want of a spark after Washington began the sport with a area purpose, the Giants obtained one from a rookie, as fifth total decide Kayvon Thibodaux obtained a sack, pressured a fumble, recovered it, and ended up made his approach to the sector, giving the Giants a 7–3 lead early within the second quarter.
For a lot of the first half, the Giants performed a twist-but-not-break protection. They allowed back-to-back drives of over 40 yards earlier than Thibodaux’s landing. The Commanders have been in a position to pin the Giants at their very own three-yard line, however the G-Males have been as much as the problem. They marched throughout the sector on an 18-play drive — two of which have been large third-and-9 and an excellent greater fourth-and-9 conversion — that set in a three-yard dashing rating for Saquon Barkley to place the Large Blue up. have ended. 14-3.
Saquon Barkley #26 of the New York Giants scores a landing throughout the 2nd quarter in opposition to the Washington Commanders at FedExField on December 18, 2022 in Landover, Maryland
(Todd Olszewski / Getty Pictures)
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However the Commanders had an enormous reply with their first drive of the second half. After forcing a Giants punt out of the half, Heineke led a 90-yard drive that was capped off by a 19-yard landing run by sixteenth total decide Jahan Dotson. On the drive, he had six performs of over 10 yards. Washington transformed a two-point play to make it a 14–11 recreation, however was known as for a decide play, and needed to accept a area purpose as a substitute. Nevertheless, Joey Sly’s try was wide-right, making it a five-point recreation.
After each groups exchanged area targets, the Giants punted the ball to Washington’s 9 with 9:13 to go, however the Commanders rapidly regained the momentum with a 61-yard bomb to Dotson. Brian Robinson ran for 19 yards to maintain the Commanders inside putting distance. Nevertheless, on third down and fourth from the Giants’ 5, the Giants pressured Heineke to fumble and recovered with simply over six minutes to go on the Giants’ 14-yard line.
The Giants handed the ball to Barkley three straight instances, and he gained good points of 12, 15 and 14 yards to drive the Large Blue out of midfield. Daniel Jones ran for the G-Males’s fourth earlier than Drive. The Commanders have been in a position to replenish the G-Males and maintain the sport alive, however Graham Gano nailed his second 50-yard area purpose, giving the Giants an eight-point lead with 1:55 remaining.
Barkley completed with 87 yards on 18 carries, one among them a rating, whereas Thibodaux completed with a dozen tackles.
Dotson completed with 105 receiving yards on his 4 receptions, whereas Robinson, additionally a rookie, ran 12 instances for 89 yards.
Landon Collins #21 of the New York Giants celebrates stopping the Washington Commanders on third down throughout the fourth quarter at FedExField on December 18, 2022 in Landover, Maryland.
(Rob Carr / Getty Pictures)
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The Commanders, who are actually 7-6-1, have an uphill battle for a playoff spot, they usually’ll go up in opposition to the NFC West champion 49ers in San Francisco on Saturday (they’re going to additionally face the Browns and Cowboys to complete the season). .
The Giants journey to Minnesota this weekend earlier than wrapping up their season in opposition to the Colts and Eagles, who might don’t have anything to play for in Week 18.
Revenue, veteran.
